"More Americans died from pandemic flu in the twentieth century than died in World War I," the ad states.

The ad began airing last week and will be seen through August 8. It was developed by the Ohio Department of Health and funded with a $400,000 federal grant, 10TV News reported.

"To tell people that, 'Knock knock knock, I want you to listen to this,' it has to be a little stark," said Bret Atkins of the Ohio Department of Health.

There is no pandemic flu now. While the bird flu has been percolating in Asia, it has proved much harder for people to spread than doctors first thought.

Atkins said the health department wants Ohioans to be prepared with information on their Web site, in case Olympic visitors return with more than souvenirs, 10TV News reported.

"We're going to have hundreds of thousands of people go to Asia for the Olympics, and diseases in this modern time of the jet age are really just a jet ride back to North American soil," Atkins said.

10TV News showed the PSA to members of the New Albany Walking Club. Some denounced it as "scare tactics," but called it effective.

"It's a very scary thing and if you're trying to motivate somebody to get a flu shot, it will probably move you into the clinic," said Frank Korth.

"It's really in people's faces so they can't become complacent about flu," said Chris Samthers.

"It's something I think most people probably don't want to think about, but it makes you think," said Debbie Levine.

Since the ad began running, nearly three times as many people have checked out the pandemic flu Web site, 10TV News reported.

Click here to visit OhioPandemicFlu.gov.

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